Improvement in car-springs



2 Sheets-Sheet 1. GIBSON &- vosg.

Car Spring. No. 38,777. I Patented June 2, i863.

2 SheetsSheet 2.

GIBSON & VOSE.

Car Spring.

I Patented June 2,1863.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RICHARD VOSE AND CHARLES D. GIBSON, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNORS TO CHAS. S. S. LENOX.

IMPROVEMENT IN CAR-SPRINGS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 38,7 77, dated June 2, 1863.

To all whom it may concern.-

Be it known that we, CHARLES D. GIBsoN and RICHARD VOSE, both of the city, county, and State of New York, have invented a new and useful combination volute spring for railroad-cars and other heavy vehicles; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description thereof, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part of this specification, of which- Figure 1 is a side view, and Fig. 2 a top view, of our improved spring Fig.3, a vertical section thereof through the line 00 w of Fig. 2, and Fig. 4 a sectional view of a metallic core and bearing-plate for the spring.

Our improved spring consists, mainly, of an ordinary properly-tempered volute spring, A, Figs. 1 and 3, coiled in a conical form, as represented in Fig. 1, and supported centrally by an unelastic core, B, of wood or its equivaleu t. This central core, B, Fig. 3, may be of a length about equal to the width of the coiled bar or plate of metal forming the volute spring, and should fit accurately in the center thereof. Its lower extremity, in common with the lower edge of the inner coil of the volute spring, rests upon and is supported by a suitable bearing-plate, 0, Fig. 3, made with vertical central projections, a and 1), upon its upper and lower surfaces. The upper projection, (0, passes into a central cylindrical cavity, formed for its reception in the lower end of the wooden core B, while the lower projection, b, passes into a metallic thirnble, G, fitted and secured within a similar cavity formed in the beam or framework D of the car-truck, as is clearly represented in Fig. 3.

In the use of volute springs upon railroadcars and other heavy vehicles it has been found that unless protected and relieved from direct concussive shocks and jars, and the electric action produced thereby, they are liable to break suddenly and become not only useless but dangerous. In order to overcome this objection and to obtain the full efficiency of a volute spring, by obviating its too quick and sudden action, we combine therewith in our invention compensating springs or disks E and F, of india-rubber, felt, or other elastic, gummy, or fibrous substance. Of these, the upper spring, E, consists of an elastic head, of

india-rubber, or its equivalent, supported by the head of the unelastic core B of the coiled spring, and is formed of a flat disk equal to the upper largest circumference of the coiled spring, with a central conical projection therefrom which rests upon the top of the central core, B. The lower surface of the flange or disk portion of the rubber head-spring E is protected from direct contact with the upper edge of the volute coil by a thin, flat, metallic ring, K, interposed between the same. The lower compensating-spring, F,'Fig. 3, consists simply of a ring of felt, india-rubber, or any equivalent elastic material, (we 'prefer felt,) inserted in an annular recess upon the under side of the bearing-plate (J, and between the lower surface of that plate and the beam (or other arrangement) 1), which supports it. The thickness of this annular spring F controls the amount of play or vibration desired at this point, and the spindle or projection b, which moves freely in the thimble G, guides and controls its movements. The spring is finished neatly by a metallic cap or cup, H, Figs. 1 and 3, whose embracing edge or flange is made deep enough to embrace and confine the edge of the rubber disk or head-spring E and metallic ring K, as also the upper edge of the volute coil A, as clearly represented in Fig. 3. This cap-plate H may be secured to the transom-beam of the car-truck (or in any other desired position relative to thelatter) by means of projecting teats c c 0.

Althoughwe have herein described the central non-elastic core, B, fitted within the coiled spring A, as made of wood and united to the bearing-plate C by means of a lug, a, projecting from said bearing-plate, we contemplate, nevertheless, in our invention, all the various modes which readily suggest themselves to the mind of forming such a non-elastic core and of uniting it with the bearing-plate O. For instance, the core may be made of metal in a tubular form, and cast in one piece with or rigidly united to the bearing-plate G, as represented in Fig. 4 of the accompanying drawings or, again, when made either of wood or metal or other non-elastic substance, either in a tubular form or solid, it may be united to the supporting base or bearing plate 0 by means of one or more lugs projecting either from the core or from the bearing plate,

and fitting into corresponding cavities in the opposite surface. The central core, D, made and united with the bearing-plate C, in any of the forms contemplated, serves as a bearing for the upper head-sprin g, E, and resting upon the lower compensating'spring, F, combines the two independently of the metallic coiled mainspring A, an arrangement which distributes the blow or jar received and prevents the too quick action of the main coiled spring. Thus in our improved combination spring, concussion, arising from inequalities of the track or any other cause, is evened and equalized, and in a measure overcome before reaching the volute spring A, which is hence left to operate regularly and with uniform elasticity.

Aware that a helical spring of metal may be substituted for or combined with the indiarubber or felt, which constitutes the headspring E, Fig. 3, herein described, we do not limit ourselves to the peculiar form of compensating-spring E, as described, but refer to all its equivalents.

Having thus fully described our invention,

what we claim therein as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. Combining a central non-elastic core, B, with a coiled metallic spring, A, and one or more compensating-springs, E F, substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein set forth.

2. Combining a volute or a helical spring with its supporting-base by means of a nonelastic core Within said spring, united to said base, substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein set forth.

3. Combining an elastic supporting disk or spring F with the metallic base C of a coiled metallic spring, substantially in the manner and for the purpose herein set forth.

The above specification of our improved combination volute spring subscribed by us this 29th day of April, A. D. 1863.

CHAS. D. GIBSON. RICHD. VOSE.

In presence of- RANDOLPH CoYLE, J r., DAVID A. BURR.

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